During the evening of 2 July 2020, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in the Damas neighborhood of the capital Yaoundé. At least 20 people were wounded, but there were no reports of fatalities; two similar attacks occurred in the area in recent weeks. No group has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, but English-speaking separatist fighters based in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions are believed to have coordinated the bombings from detention centers in the city. Following the attack, the governor of the Central Region — where Yaoundé is located — convened a special security meeting and increased security patrols in the city.
Analyst Comment: The most recent explosion took place shortly after a meeting between separatist leaders and government officials to discuss a possible ceasefire. Fighting between various English-speaking separatist groups located in the Anglophone regions and government forces has been ongoing since 2017. During the conflict, more than 3,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
